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6. “I might look cute but I can sap you out!” Treehoppers have long fascinated biologists because of their unusual appearance. They belong to the Membracidae family and are closely related to cicadas and leafhoppers. They feed upon the sap found in plant stems, which they prick with their beaks.
Image: Vai_boy
Rhyssa persuasoria (meaning persuasive burglar) is one of the largest ichneumon wasps in Europe. The length of adults varies from about 10–20 millimetres (0.39–0.79 in) in males up to 20–40 millimetres (0.79–1.6 in) in the females, plus about 20–40 millimetres (0.79–1.6 in) of the ovipositor. They have a thin black body, several whitish spots on the head, thorax, and abdomen and reddish legs. The antennae are long and thin. The long stinger on the abdomen of the females is just an egg laying instrument (ovipositor), therefore these wasps are harmless to humans.
They can mainly be encountered from July through August, especially in paths and clearings of coniferous forests.
Female of this parasitic species drills deep into wood by its hair thin ovipositor (terebra) and lays its eggs on larvae living in timber, which become a food supply and an incubator for the progeny, until it is fully grown. Larvae overwinter in the wood, pupating the next spring and emerging from the wood as adults.
Main hosts of Rhyssa persuasoria are the larvae of Horntail or Wood Wasps (Urocerus gigas, Siricidae species, a type of xylophagous sawfly), as well as larvae of Longhorn Beetle (Spondylis buprestoides, Monochamus sutor) and Great Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo).
(Inadvertedly posted publicly earlier while id-ing this species.)
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Een zeer grote sluipwesp met een legboor die langer is dan het lichaam. Lichaam zwart met gele tekening op de kop, borststuk en achterlijf. Poten grotendeels rood.
Niet zeldzaam in naaldbossen.
De sluipwesp zoekt naar de in hout levende larven van naaldhoutwespen. Om de gastheren aan te prikken moet ze diep met de legboor in het hout doordringen. Bij deze soort blijft de tweeledige legboorschede aan het eindpunt contact houden met de legboor en wordt in een krul naar boven geschoven naarmate de legboor dieper in het hout verzinkt.
It spent a few minutes warming up on my finger and then took off and landed on a nearby dandelion and started feeding on nectar.
Think it said thanks before flying off to another dandelion
Miner bee sequence
Stacking images is challenging. First, a subject that stands still, then focusing at different distances. Thats the hard part. If the fly doesn't move and you can see that subtle change in focus, you might get something. Four images ... Canon T2i, Canon EF 100mm macro f2.8 L, Zerene Stacker, Lightroom 5.
The 2 middle ones are different from the others but I find them interesting. I agree that doesn't fit "panel rules"
Butterfly Conservatory, Cambridge Ontario
Feb 27 2015
Only the street shots - thestreetzine.blogspot.com/
Noticed a few black ants beginning to show some activity so I baited the top of a milk bottle with a drop of honey
The challenge with up close and personal macro photography, live insects and animals, will not sit still just waiting for you! Although some just might, if you don't invade their comfort zone...
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Nikon D700
Nikkor micro 105mm - f2.8
30 Focus stacked images.
2 Helios Studio strobe (1/8 power) both with Soft Box mounted camera left & right..
Pocket Wizard triggers.
F8 at 1/200th Second, ISO200
It was sitting on my Rhubarb plant, sunbathing and catching insects to eat, it has just finished one in the pic
There are times I am SO glad I am not a flying insect! Wished I could have released him but I would have harmed him more if I had tried.
Okay, so not a particularly pretty photo today.
The fine folks over at BugGuide.net have helped me identify these as Cicada Parasite Beetles or Cedar Beetles from the family Rhipiceridae! The larger one is actually the female, the brown fancy one is the male.
Previously...
I'm hoping someone can identify these beetles I found on a silver maple tree in my yard. Close to these two was what appeared to be a family of them - with the larger beetle carrying three others on its back! Very intriguing.
There are also a few other smaller brown ones swarming around the tree. I want to be sure there isn't some kind of infestation going on. Never saw them before today. Anyone have a clue as to what these critters are?
I also found another VERY interesting insect today. Check this guy out!